Body vest gym

ABSTRACT

An exercise system comprising an adjustable vest/harness comprising a plurality of straps which encompass a user&#39;s torso, shoulders and legs. The straps further comprise adjustable clip snaps which allow the user to easily put on and take off the harness, as well as adjust the size of the harness to their personal comfort, and can be adapted for people of any body type, size, age or handicap. Attached to the straps of the harness are a plurality of loops positioned at various locations on both the front and back for releasably attaching interchangeable resistance bands used in conjunction with various accessories such as handles, curling bars or floor plates. The bands are easily interchangeable and adjustable, depending on the desired resistance, and allow the user to exercise all major muscle systems of the body and subsequently travel with or store the system in minimal space.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationNo. 11/180,944 filed on Jul. 13, 2005. The disclosure of the aboveapplication is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to exercise equipment. More particularly,this invention relates to portable exercise systems utilizing resilientresistance bands for exercising multiple muscle groups.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It has been researched and well documented that personal health is acrucial factor in a person's day-to-day regime and, within the categoryof personal health, exercise has been determined to be a criticalcomponent. Unfortunately, in today's modern age, the average individualis working a longer work day/week, traveling more frequently (whether itbe employment related or recreational), and finding they have much lesstime for sports and/or leisure. It is often the case that time dedicatedto the important activity of exercising suffers or is omitted alltogether. Many people, whether they are at home or on the road, findthey are too tired to head off to the gym or do not have the initiativeto seek out a workout facility. Others complain that purchasing a homegym, workout system, treadmill, exercise bike, etc. is either tooexpensive, would occupy too much space in their home, or that such asystem would be difficult to store or too burdensome to set up.

Many prior art exercise systems have been developed which attempt toprovide a solution to the above problems. One of the most common typesis an exercise system utilizing elastic bands or cords to provide theresistance necessary to build and tone various muscle groups. Thesesystems allow the user to exercise at home and provide for lightweightportability, eliminating the need for weights and large home gyms.

Two such systems disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,647,827 and 5,813,955 toGutkowski et al. utilize a belt connected to a harness that the userwears when exercising. A plurality of elastic bands connects the user'sarms and/or legs to the belt for exercising the muscle groups of thearms and legs during walking/running or stationary exercises. Thesedevices are limited in design to only work the muscle groups of the armsand legs and do not provide for increased resistance and quickchangeability of the resistance levels as the user strengthens.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,533 to Goldman utilizes a walking vest having aplurality of loops attached thereto through which elastic bands arestrung for stretching with the arms, but is also limited to the musclegroups of the arms, and changing resistance bands is time consuming.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,097,376 to Marshman teaches of a body harness forexercising, wherein chords or cables are attached to hand grips and/orshoes worn by the user for exercising the legs and or arms.Unfortunately, the bands are not easily interchangeable and for the userto exercise their legs they must be wearing the specially designedshoes. Furthermore, the limited number of exercises that can beperformed by this and the above-mentioned prior art still leaves avacancy in the field for a portable, easy-to-store exercise system whichcan be worn by and adjusted to each individual user and which providesfor simple interchangeability of resistance bands, support for a widerange of full-body exercises, and a plurality of compatible accessoriesand which can be utilized in strength training and aerobic exercise, aswell as physical therapeutic applications.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a fullbody exercise device which is lightweight and easy to put on and takeoff.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an exercisedevice which provides for the quick exchange of various resistancebands.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an exercise vestwhich allows the user to exercise all major muscle groups of the body.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an exercise vestthat is adjustable for all body types.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an exercisevest that is easily packed in a user's luggage for use while traveling.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an exercise systemthat is compatible with a plurality of exercise accessories, enhancingthe work out of the individual user.

Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide an exercisevest system that is simple and economical to manufacture and can beutilized for both exercise as well as physical therapy applications.

These and other objectives will be more clearly understood from thedetailed description and figures contained herein relating to anexercise system comprising an adjustable vest/harness worn by the userwhich comprises a plurality of straps that encompass the user's torso,shoulders and legs. The straps further comprise adjustable clip snapswhich allow the user to easily put on and take off the harness as wellas adjust the size of the harness to their personal comfort. Attached tothe straps are a plurality of hook loops positioned at various locationson both the front and back for releasably attaching interchangeableresistance bands which are used in conjunction with various accessoriessuch as handles, curling bars or floor plates.

The bands are easily interchangeable for replacing a worn band or forincreasing or decreasing the resistance and they releasably clip ontothe hook loops in various locations on the harness to allow the user toexercise all major muscle systems of the body and can be quicklyreleased and stored with the harness and accessories in minimal spacewhen the work out is finished.

Further areas of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It shouldbe understood that the detailed description and specific examples, whileindicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended forpurposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope ofthe invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a frontal perspective view of the body harness comprising thepresent invention as worn by an individual;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the body harness comprising thepresent invention as worn by an individual;

FIG. 3A is a partial perspective view of the resistance band and hookinterface;

FIG. 3B is an isolated side view of the hook element of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3C is an isolated frontal view of the hook element of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one of the various resistance bands ofthe present invention;

FIG. 5A is an isolated frontal view of the handle element of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5B is a bottom view of the handle element of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 5C is a side view of the handle element of FIG. 5A and 5B;

FIG. 6A is a partial perspective view of the attachment interfacebetween the resistance band/clip assembly and one of the hook loops ofthe harness of the present invention;

FIG. 6B is an isolated side view of one of the hook loops of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6C is a partial perspective close-up of the front side of theharness straps at the attachment point of the hook loops;

FIG. 6D is a partial perspective close-up view of the back side of theharness straps at the attachment point of the hook loops;

FIG. 7A is a side view of an ergonomic curling bar accessory utilized inconjunction with the present invention;

FIG. 7B is a side view of a straight curling bar comprising anotheraccessory utilized in conjunction with the present invention;

FIG. 7C is a perspective aerial view of a floor plate comprising anotheraccessory utilized in conjunction with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective side view of an ankle harness on the ankle of auser, comprising a further accessory utilized in conjunction with thepresent invention; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective isolated view of the ankle harness of FIG. 8,comprising a further accessory utilized in conjunction with the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merelyexemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention,its application, or uses.

With reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numeralsdesignate like or corresponding parts throughout, there is shown inFIGS. 1 and 2 an exercise harness 10 comprising the preferred embodimentof the present invention. Harness 10 is constructed of a plurality ofstraps manufactured from a lightweight polymer such as nylon orpolyester, but may be made from any number of high-strength materialsknown in the art. It can be manufactured in a variety of sizes, but eachis fully adjustable to custom fit the individual user. Harness 10comprises two horizontal and generally-parallel straps 12, 14 which wraparound the mid-section of an individual proximal the rib cage and thetop of the hips, respectively. Each horizontal strap has a releasableclip snap closure 40 positioned approximately centered in front of theuser which allows the strap to be attached or released and furtherprovides an adjustment means for adjusting the length of the straps tocontour to the individual's body dimensions. Additionally, sizeadjusters 44 are positioned approximately centered on the back ofhorizontal straps 12, 14, further allowing the user to tailor thevest/harness to their individual dimensions.

Extending downward from upper horizontal strap 12 to lower horizontalstrap 14 are lateral side straps 20, 22. These straps attach to theupper and lower horizontal straps 12, 14 and are positioned on the sidesof harness 10 proximal the user's arms. Length adjusters 44 are alsolocated on lateral side straps 20, 22 for height adjustment purposes,and both lateral straps 20, 22 extend downward along the side of theuser beyond the lower horizontal strap 22 and approximately halfway downthe thigh of the user, attaching to horizontal leg straps 24, 26,respectively. The leg straps wrap around the user's legs approximatelymid-thigh and further comprise releasable, adjustable-length clip snapclosures 40 on the front side for ease of putting on and taking off theharness.

Attaching to leg straps 24, 26 proximal the inner thighs of the user arecorresponding groin support straps 28, 30, respectively. These groinsupport straps cross over the front of the upper legs on the front sideof the user, attaching to lower horizontal strap 14 proximal the hipbones. On the back side of the harness, groin support straps 28, 30 wraparound and support the user's right and left buttock, respectively,attaching to lateral side straps 20, 22 just below the lower horizontalstrap 14. Groin support straps 28, 30 also comprise adjustable lengthclip snap closures 40 in front and length adjusters 44 in the rear asdescribed above.

Referring now to the upper portion of harness 10, shoulder straps 16, 18are attached to upper horizontal strap 12 under the arms of the user,proximal the attachment of lateral side straps 20, 22, respectively.Shoulder straps 16, 18 wrap up and over the user's shouldersfront-to-back, forming a loop connected under the user's arms throughwhich the user inserts their left and right arms, respectively. Frontand rear horizontal upper-body straps 32, 34 connect the left and rightshoulder straps 16, 18 proximal the upper. chest in the front and theshoulder blades in the rear. The rear upper-body strap 34 as well as therear side of shoulder straps 16, 18 comprise further length adjusters44, and front horizontal upper-body strap 32 comprises an additionaladjustable-length clip snap closure 40. Harness 10 will further embodypadding attached to the back side of the straps at various high-pressureareas such as the shoulders, crotch and legs. This will increase thecomfort of the harness during use and allow the user to extend theduration of their workout.

Positioned at various predetermined locations on the straps of harness10 are hook loops 50, disclosed later in further detail, stitched intothe straps in both vertical and horizontal orientations. These hookloops, manufactured from a high-strength polymer such as plastic ornylon, provide the releasable attachment points of the resistance bandsutilized by the user during exercise, and in the preferred embodimentconsist of eighteen on the front side of the user and eight on the rearside. These include three on each of leg straps 24, 26, six on lowerhorizontal strap 14, six on upper horizontal strap 12 and four on eachrespective shoulder strap 16, 18. Let it be known that additional orfewer hook loops 50 may be utilized while still remaining within thescope of the present invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 3A-3C, as well as FIG. 4 for reference toindividual resistance bands 70, attachment hooks 60 are shown in detail.The hooks may be manufactured of any suitable lightweight, high-strengthmaterial, such as aluminum, but in a preferred embodiment ismanufactured from a polymer such as nylon or polyester resin. Eachresistance band 70 attaches to two hooks 60 (one hook at each end),wherein each hook 60 comprises a base 64 having an elongated aperture 61therein through which the end 71 of resistance band 70 is passedthrough. Hook 60 further comprises parallel side walls 65, 66, withparallel, angled notches 68 cut partially through, which support andreceive the resistance band pins 72 at concentric groves 73 locatedproximal the ends of resistance band pins 72 preventing lateralslide-out of the pin. Each pin 72 is positioned through a cross-passage75 located in ends 71 of resistance band 70 once the end has been fedthrough aperture 61 of hook 60, with end 71 of resistance band 70positioned between side walls 65, 66.

A U-shaped clasp portion 62 extends from the base member having ahook-loop receiving channel 67 positioned parallel to pin 72. On the endof partially-deflectable clasp portion 62 a plurality of detents 63extend inward toward channel 67, for preventing accidental release ofhook 60 from the various hook loops once it is secured to loop 50 ofharness 10.

To interchange resistance bands 70, whether to replace a worn band or ifthe user desires a different resistance amount, the user simply releaseshook 60 from harness 10 and partially extends resistance band 70 furtherthrough aperture 61 of hook 60, thereby releasing pin 72 from notches68. The pin can then be slid laterally out of cross-passage 75 ofresistance band 70, at which time end 71 of resistance band 70 can bewithdrawn from aperture 61 of hook 60. Replacement band 70 is installedin the simple reversal of the above outlined steps and can be performedin mere seconds by the user.

Each resistance band 70 is manufactured to have a predetermined level ofresistance created by the bands elastic properties, thickness and width.They are designed to allow the user to twist the bands, increasing theresistance of any given band without having to change it out for ahigher resistance band.

Illustrated in FIGS. 5A through 5C, a handle accessory 80 is shown.Manufactured from high strength plastic, the handle comprises acylindrical grip 84 which is grasped by the user. A U-shaped, resistanceband attachment loop 82 is attached at distal ends 81 to grip 84 so asto provide a grasping locale for either the right or left hand of theuser there between. Centered on the attachment loop is a hook loop 86,which releasably receives hook 60 attached to the distal end of aresistance band assembly, while the opposite end is attached to one ofthe various locations on the user's harness.

Handle accessory 80 can be used to perform a plurality of exercisesutilizing the extensor and reflexor muscles of the arms, shoulders,chest, back and abdomen.

Referring now to FIGS. 6A through 6D, the details of the attachment ofhook loop 50 to the various straps (shown here as 18) is illustrated.The hook loops, much like the rest of the preferred embodiment, aremanufactured from high-strength plastic such as nylon or polyester. Eachloop 50 comprises a cylindrical flattened U-shaped hook-receivingportion 52, which is positioned centered on generally planar base plate54. Base plate 54 is generally square in shape and comprises taperedouter edges 55, 57 through which the hook loop is stitched to strap 18.At the desired position for each hook loop 50, an elongated aperture 19is positioned through strap 18. Orientated either perpendicular orparallel to strap 18 as shown in FIG. 6A, aperture 19 is large enough toreceive hook-receiving portion 52 there through from the back side ofthe strap.

A cloth cover pad 21 is then positioned over base plate 54 on the backside of strap 18 and the pad 21 and plate 54 are stitched to strap 18.The pad provides additional securement of hook loop 50 to strap 18,while further preventing chafing of the user from the edges of baseelement 54 during use of the harness. As mentioned, the quantity andpositioning of hook loops 50 on harness 10 can vary and are stillintended to be within the scope of the present invention, but are shownin the desired locations of the preferred embodiment in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Referring now to FIGS. 7A-7C, additional accessories for the exercisesystem disclosed herein are shown. Particularly, FIG. 7A illustrates anergonomic curling bar 90 comprising a plurality of hook attachmentpoints 94 positioned at various locations on the distal ends of the bar.Symmetrical curved portions 91 and 93 allow the user to grasp bar 90 andposition their hands in alternative orientations to those allowed with astraight bar (as shown in FIG. 7B), allowing different muscles to beexercised. In both FIGS. 7A and 7B, the hook attachment points 94 (forconnecting distal hooks 60 of resistance band assemblies to variablepositions along the bars), provide different levels of resistance to theuser. As shown in FIG. 7C, a floor plate 100 is shown. Generally ofplanar-rectangular shape, floor plate 100 has a pair of non-skid steppads 102, 104 on which the user stands when they desire to exercise themuscles of the legs (for example during a squat-type exercise).Positioned at the rear of the step pads, a pair of raised,crescent-shaped heel locators 106, 108 are located to assist inpreventing the user's feet from moving during use. Located adjacent theheel locators, a plurality of hook attachment points 110 are attached tobase floor plate 100 for attaching distal hooks 60 of resistance bands70, while the opposite ends are attached to the desired position on theharness.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, additional accessories for the exercisesystem disclosed herein are shown comprising one or more (generally apair) ankle harnesses 120 to be utilized in conjunction with theexercise apparatus of the present invention. Each ankle harness 120 isof similar manufacture as to harness 10 comprising a plurality of strapswhich surround the ankle with a plurality of means to attach toresistance bands 70.

Specifically, ankle harnesses 120 comprise a foot strap 124 having afastening means 134 which surrounds the user's foot about midway betweenthe toe and the heel. The fastening means is preferably hook-and-looptype fasteners, but any number of releasable securing means may beimplemented. Heel strap 128 extends from foot strap 124 along the bottomof the foot, cradling the heel and traveling a short distance up theback of the leg and attaching to an upper ankle strap 122 encircling thelower leg. Upper ankle strap 122 is also releasably secured around theuser's leg by similar means 32 as foot strap 124, allowing for quicksecurement and removal of ankle harness 120 from the user.

When secured to a user's ankle, an upper foot interconnecting strap 126is located on top of the user's foot and is attached at one end to thetop of foot strap 124 and at a second end to the front of the anklestrap 122. Furthermore, a pair of inner and outer lateral straps 125,127 attach from the heel strap 128 at a lower end, just below the user'sankle, and travel up the lateral sides of the user's ankles attaching atan upper end to upper ankle strap 122.

Attached to the upper edge of ankle strap 122, a plurality of loops 50,similar in design and function to the loops of the rest of theapparatus, is attached to ankle strap 122 and project upwards, parallelto the user's leg, for attaching the distal hooks of the resistancebands.

Ankle harness 120 accessory is designed to allow the user to wear itbefore, during and after their exercise session within their shoe,without causing discomfort.

Any number of aerobic, anerobic or physical therapy exercises may beperformed utilizing the harness system for exercising, building andtoning the various muscular systems of the body including, but notlimited to, the trapezium, deltoids, pectoralis, tricepts, bicepts,latissimus dorsi, abdominus, gluteus maximus, sartorius, bicept femoris,rectus femoris and gastrocnemius.

The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and,thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention areintended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations arenot to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

1. A portable exercise system comprising: an adjustable harness worn bya user having a front side and a back side, said harness comprising: apair of over-the-shoulder straps connected under the arms of said userto form loops; a pair of lateral straps extending down the side of saiduser attached to said shoulder straps proximal under the arms of saiduser, each lateral strap terminating at a lower end attached to athigh-encircling strap; a plurality of parallel, horizontal strapsencircling the torso of said user, attached to said lateral straps alongside of user; a pair of crotch-supporting straps attached to saidthigh-encircling straps proximal the inside of said user thighs, and oneof said horizontal straps proximal said user's hips; a pair ofshoulder-strap connecting straps, one positioned in front of user, onepositioned behind user, parallel to said plurality of said horizontalstraps; a plurality of interchangeable elastic bands detachablyattachable at one end to said harness, and detachably attachable at asecond end to a plurality of accessories; and a plurality of accessoriesdetachably attachable to said bands.
 2. The portable exercise system ofclaim 1, wherein said harness is manufactured from high-strength,low-stretch polyester strapping.
 3. The portable exercise system ofclaim 1, wherein said harness is manufactured from high-strength,low-stretch nylon strapping.
 4. The portable exercise system of claim 1,wherein the height, length and diameter of said harness is adjustable bya plurality of strap lengthening and shortening buckles positioned onsaid harness.
 5. The portable exercise system of claim 1, wherein saidharness further comprises a plurality of releasable buckles positionedon said harness.
 6. The portable exercise system of claim 1, whereinsaid plurality of horizontal straps is two on said front side of saidharness and two on said back side of said harness.
 7. The portableexercise system of claim 1, further comprising padding attached to thestraps positioned between the straps and said user.
 8. The portableexercise system of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality ofinterchangeable elastic bands has a predetermined resistance tostretching.
 9. The portable exercise system of claim 8, wherein thepredetermined resistance to stretching may be increased by twisting saidelastic bands.
 10. The portable exercise system of claim 1, wherein saidplurality of accessories comprise a straight curling bar, a bent curlingbar, a pair of individual handles and a floor plate.
 11. The portableexercise system of claim 10, wherein each of said plurality ofaccessories comprises multiple locations for detachably attaching saidelastic bands.
 12. A portable exercise system comprising: an adjustableharness worn by a user having a front side and a back side, said harnesscomprising: a pair of over-the-shoulder straps connected under the armsof said user to form loops; a pair of lateral straps extending down theside of said user attached to said shoulder straps proximal under thearms of said user, each lateral strap terminating at a lower endattached to a thigh-encircling strap; a plurality of parallel,horizontal straps encircling the torso of said user, attached to saidlateral straps along side of user; a pair of crotch-supporting straps,attached to said thigh-encircling straps proximal the inside of saiduser thighs, and one of said horizontal straps proximal said user'ships; a pair of shoulder strap connecting straps, one positioned infront of user, one positioned behind user, parallel to said plurality ofsaid horizontal straps; a plurality of interchangeable elastic bandshaving a means of detachably attaching said bands at a first end to aplurality of plastic attachment loops stitched to said harness on saidshoulder straps, said horizontal straps and said thigh-encircling strapson both the front side and the back side of said harness, and detachablyattaching said bands at a second end to a plurality of accessories; saidattaching means comprising a removeable pin positioned through saidfirst or second end of said bands, releasably secured in a plastic hookwhich connects to said attachment loops; and a plurality of accessorieshaving a plurality of loops for attaching to said attachment means ofsaid second end of said bands.
 13. The portable exercise system of claim12, wherein said harness is manufactured from high-strength, low-stretchpolyester strapping.
 14. The portable exercise system of claim 12,wherein said harness is manufactured from high-strength, low-stretchnylon strapping.
 15. The portable exercise system of claim 12, whereinthe height, length and diameter of said harness is adjustable by aplurality of strap lengthening and shortening buckles positioned on saidharness.
 16. The portable exercise system of claim 12, wherein saidharness further comprises a plurality of releasable buckles positionedon said harness.
 17. The portable exercise system of claim 12, whereinsaid plurality of horizontal straps is two on said front side of saidharness and two on said back side of said harness.
 18. The portableexercise system of claim 12, further comprising padding attached to thestraps positioned between the straps and said user.
 19. The portableexercise system of claim 12, wherein each of said interchangeableelastic bands has a predetermined resistance to stretching.
 20. Theportable exercise system of claim 12, wherein said first end and saidsecond end of said bands are interchangeable.
 21. The portable exercisesystem of claim 19, wherein the predetermined resistance to stretchingmay be increased by twisting said elastic bands.
 22. The portableexercise system of claim 12, wherein said plurality of accessoriescomprise a straight curling bar, a bent curling bar, a pair ofindividual handles and a floor plate.
 23. The portable exercise systemof claim 22, wherein each of said plurality of accessories comprisesmultiple locations for detachably attaching said elastic bands.
 24. Theportable exercise system of claim 12, wherein said plurality of exerciseaccessories comprises at least one ankle harness, said ankle harnesscomprising a plurality of adjustable straps which embrace the ankle ofthe user, said ankle harness capable of being worn by user simultaneousto and within a shoe.
 25. The portable exercise system of claim 24,wherein said ankle harness comprises multiple locations for detachablyattaching said elastic bands.
 26. The portable exercise system of claim24, wherein said harness is manufactured from high-strength, low-stretchpolyester strapping.
 27. The portable exercise system of claim 24,wherein said harness is manufactured from high-strength, low-stretchnylon strapping.